Notes from a winning streak; and then there were the ’64 Phillies

On the morning of Sept. 20, the St. Louis Cardinals had a 7-game lead in the NL Central with 13 to go. The Astros were 8 1/2 back. The largest blown lead with 13 games remaining is 5 1/2 by the ’64 Phillies.

Those of you who are still writing in to complain about Phil Garner and Brad Lidge, those of you who are still fretting about the games that got away and tell people you’re not the least bit excited by this little spurt, you’re not fooling me. You’re doing that reverse psychology thing. Come on, admit it. You know you are.

I’m not faulting you. I do the same thing when my Coogs are playing. When my guys do something wrong–and that hasn’t happened much lately–I immediately give up on the game and declare the season over.

Once earlier this season when a guy kept writing to bash Brad Lidge, I finally asked why he was so bitter. He told me that he cared too much, that the Astros had broken his heart too many times and that he wanted to see his team win the World Series in his lifetime.

Speaking of the World Series, well, uh, OK, never mind, it’s still too far-fetched. I mean, it can’t happen. If it does happen–and I’m not saying it will; I’m saying it’s practically impossible–people will be talking about it for years. There’ll be books and movies.

Monday’s 5-4 victory was a tribute to a team that didn’t arrive in Philly until almost dawn and is playing with a worn-down bullpen. That worn-down bullpen still did tremendous work, with Trever Miller, Brad Lidge, Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler combining to pitch three innings of no-hit relief. With the Cardinals losing again, the Astros are three games out in the loss column with six to play. At 78-78, the Astros are at .500 for the first time since July 6 (43-43).

Now a word about the schedule. The Cardinals have played one less game than the Astros because a game against the Giants was postponed September 17. Since the Giants and Cardinals haven’t had any matching off-days, that game will be played next Monday only if necessary to settle a playoff berth. The Astros and Phillies played their makeup game on Monday because both had scheduled days off.

If the Cardinals and Astros finished tied atop the NL Central, their one-game playoff would be Tuesday at Minute Maid Park. The Astros won a coin flip on Monday.

Can you imagine what the Cardinals are feeling? One week ago, they were going to clinch in time to line up their pitching staff for the playoffs. And now six straight losses. That’s their longest losing streak since… well since an eight-gamer that began in late July and ended in early August.

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Gary Kubiak called out Mario Williams, saying aloud what others have been saying for weeks. Williams may yet have a nice NFL career, but he’s off to a very slow start. If the Texans aren’t wondering if they made the mother of all mistakes by taking him instead of Reggie Bush, they’re not human.

”I was disappointed in his play,” Kubiak said Monday. ”I was disappointed in the way he played… And I’m expecting him to bounce back this coming week and become the type of player we want him to become. I don’t want to pin that all on him. I don’t want y’all to take it that way, but he knows I was disappointed in his play. And he has to play better.”

Kubiak offered a critical assessment of David Carr, saying: “David did some very good things. He is improving as a player. He still has a couple plays a game that there is no excuse for, and I told him that today. A fumbled snap, that’s on him… Fumbling the ball in the pocket, that’s on you as the quarterback. You have to protect the pocket. We’re trying to grow off the positive things he’s doing, and I see a much improved player, but we have to find a way to do away with those other things because… And I tell David this all the time, ‘David, that’s your group out there. Those 11 guys, that’s your group, and they are a direct reflection of you and your leadership and what you do with them every time we’re on the field.’ I have to get him to understand that and become a complete player.”

Kubiak would be a better coach if he had a new offensive line and a new defensive line and at least one new cornerback. It’s easy to pick on the coaching, but in the end, the Texans don’t have enough personnel. Looking at them these first three games, they seem to be a long way from getting it right.

The Texans are dead last in total defense, allowing almost 100 yards a game more than any other team. They’re a mere 29th of 32 teams in total defense.

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The Astros are taking up valuable space on this blog that should be invited to all of us pitching in and coming up with a nickname for Mario Williams. Someone came up with Stupor Mario. My personal favorite is The Sackmaster.